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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

if your dc didn't go to pre-school, how did you "prepare" them for school (if at all)

24 replies

deaconblue · 13/07/2009 20:03

Having problems getting a pre-school place for ds (3.2) and can only get 2 sessions a week. Wondering what I should/could do at home over this next year to help him be ready for school.
eg I know he used to do "mark making" at nursery every day so have been trying to make sure we do something like this every day.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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AintMisbehaving · 13/07/2009 20:23

Hi shoppingbagsundereyes,

I am building a website that pools together the best learning ideas from many parents, teachers, teacher-parents etc. The site includes many learning ideas are fun, active based, and not at a desk. The idea is mixing learning with fun for children aged 2 ? 6 years.

Parents supporting their children's learning is the biggest factor in children reaching their full potential. Give it a try and in return please give feedback ?

The site is not completed yet but I am looking for reviewers of the site before it goes 'live' and subscription based. Your children (and you) should benefit from the learning strategies themselves with free access as more content come on that we would like your comments on.

Send a reply and I?ll get the website link to you with instructions.

Original poster

deaconblue · 13/07/2009 20:26

thanks that would be great. Posted in chat last week with some of my ideas for the next 8 weeks when I have no childcare at all for him and was hoping for some new ideas but didn't get many so that would be great.

OP posts:

AintMisbehaving · 13/07/2009 20:33

Yeah. I think it can be hit or miss depending if people see your message in the 'last 15' mins window.

Ok - to get the link to you without revealing it on MN (against rules I think).
If you send me a send a C-A-M message I think I can send the link that way. Do you know how to do that - I cant say I do!
Let me know how you get on.

AintMisbehaving · 13/07/2009 20:35

Yeah. I think it can be hit or miss depending if people see your message in the 'last 15' mins window.

AintMisbehaving · 13/07/2009 20:36

I think you click 'Contact poster' on the blue line on right-hand side

slng · 13/07/2009 20:38

My DS1 never went to preschool, and I'm not planning to send DS2 to preschool either. DS1 loves school and has no problems. DS2 now attending day nursery. They have the same EYFS thingummy, anyway, do they not? I hate the idea of preschool. I prefer the day nursery where DS1 has been and DS2 now is, where they make a lot of noise, run about, bake cakes, and dig holes in the garden. They will be fine at school when it is time.

Original poster

deaconblue · 13/07/2009 20:44

ah have taken ds out of nursery as he was so unhappy there, so will be doing all but 2 afternoons a week myself. I have his EYFS folder so have an idea about the different headings etc so can work on those myself.

OP posts:

slng · 13/07/2009 20:50

I took DS1 to see his school once and walked past it a couple of times and emphasise how much fun he was going to have there - pick activities he likes and tell him he'll get to do them, and they do more or less do the nursery-type things. What does your DS like?

Original poster

deaconblue · 13/07/2009 21:07

he loves reading, playing outside. not at all keen on group activities (I have another thread on that this evening)

OP posts:

slng · 13/07/2009 21:26

I saw the thread title. Both my children never join in any group activities when I am around - party games, toddler groups etc all a waste of time as far as we are concerned. However they both like singing and story time in nursery ... DS1 very frequently would just play on his own as well in nursery and they would just let him be. I was worried that he would find the conformation expected in school difficult (though I never said anything to him), but he just took to it. He was quiet in the beginning, but not scared at all. Now apparently he joins in quite happily. But he still does not do party games.... So your DS might just grow into it. Plus if he gets 2 sessions a week he'll get some experience of the place. I would just relax ...

Original poster

deaconblue · 13/07/2009 21:41

thanks. I think " just relax" should be my mantra. I spend far too much time analysing my parenting

OP posts:

TheArmadillo · 13/07/2009 21:50

ds is starting at school in sept and hasn't been to preschool for the last year (he hated it - I didn;t see the point in ruining his last year before he was in school for the next 13 years or so).

Mostly what they need to know is basics like getting dressed themselves, being able to ask for help, recognise their name written down etc.

Apart from that we have concentrated on what to do if e.g someone is being mean to you, you don't understand something, you are lost etc (basically all answers are 'find a grown up and ask/tell them). And things like doing what you are told/asked to do, listening to instructions and that kind of thing.

Apart from that school is where they go to learn these things. We have taught ds some of the alphabet when he shows interest. He knows numbers, shapes, colours, like most kids his age. He's used to socialising with other children. The rest is what they will teach him.

Ds is very excited about school and tbh I think he'll be fine (he's def ready but will be nearly 5 when he starts so one of the older ones).

slng · 13/07/2009 22:14

The Armadillo is wise.

But I didn't do the follow-instruction bit, probably because I worry to much about conformation... It's my bugbear. I was told once that I was doing my child a great disservice by not teaching him to conform. I said bollocks to the man and that's that. But that's another story, and it's bed time ...

slng · 13/07/2009 22:14

(Not implying that following instructions is necessarily conformation )

idontbelieveit · 13/07/2009 22:44

this is my mate's blog and she has truly brilliant ideas so have a look if you want some cool projects to do with him.

Supercherry · 14/07/2009 08:04

Shoppingbagsundermyeyes, have you spoken to the school regarding your concerns?

My nephew has been at pre-school for almost a year now and he loves it. They pretty much just play, outdoors, creative play (all play is educational within reason anyway IMO) and have storytime. My sister spoke to the teachers about what the first year is like at school and at the one he is going to it is not that different from pre-school. Lots of free play, no desks and chairs, instead they have sofas! Every so often the teacher takes a pupil aside for one on one learning time which is kept short and fun.

poshtottie · 14/07/2009 08:25

I know most of the school in my area only start with two sessions a week, mornings/afternoons.

Ds is going three mornings starting in September (private school). I don't really want him to do more than this as he is not quite 3 yet. On the days he is not there he will go to swimming and gym and then Friday he will be able to have a day at home.

Original poster

deaconblue · 14/07/2009 19:50

Idon'tbelieveit, that blog is amazing. what lucky girls they are (and so beautiful too). Will have a good look at it this week and steal some ideas. I love the fairy houses and fancy doing some simple woodwork with ds, he'd love that.
BTW dinosaur week is off to a roaring (get it?) start. He absolutely loved the museum and has come home fascinated with the idea of carnivores and herbivores

OP posts:

purepurple · 14/07/2009 19:59

here's the official EYFS
I hate the rerm pre school as it implies that the important learning only happens at school
the early years before school are just as important, if not more so

purepurple · 14/07/2009 20:03

forgot to say that research has proved that it is the quality of pre-school provision that is important and not the quantity
in other words, a couple of sessions at a really good pre-school is better than full time at a bad one
evidence from the EPPE project supports this
also, parental involvement is key

Original poster

deaconblue · 14/07/2009 20:23

that's interesting purepurple, the pre-school he's going to has an outstanding ofsted report and I particularly like that it's run by lots of 40 somethings. (his nursery staff were very young and inexperienced).
We won't know til January if he's going to get into the primary school of our choice but I will definitely contact them then for some ideas. I love the idea of the school with sofas instead of desks for reception. My heart sinks at the thought of ds stuck behind a desk.

OP posts:

purepurple · 14/07/2009 20:29

The staff in a pre-school make all the difference. i work in a pre-school in a nursery and i am 40+ too. I know that the children in our pre-school are prepared for school and it has nothing to do with academic expectations. The best preparation for school is to foster a love of learning in children. Children who are inquisitive, curious and able to make choices for themselves will do better at school than those children forced to sit and colour in sheets and recite the alphabet.

zebramummy · 14/07/2009 20:59

Idon'tbelieveit - wow i am speechless - where does she get all these ideas from plus the energy and patience to implement them - and she manages to take great photos too

idontbelieveit · 15/07/2009 10:44

she's amazing, she puts me to shame! If she hadn't moved to california I'd be round there all the time with my dds!

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